Thyme is an herb whose story weaves throughout human history. Historians believe that the ancient Sumerians were the first to cultivate thyme, possibly as early as 5,000 years ago. The Sumerians were the first to discover thyme’s antiseptic properties and used it as an anti-fungal and a disinfectant.
Thyme in Ancient Greece and Rome
Thyme was as popular in ancient Greece as it is today. Many say the modern genus name, Thymus, comes from the Greek thymos (also spelled thumos), which embodies the Greek concept of “spiritedness,” indicating courage. Others say Thymus comes from the Greek word meaning “to fumigate.” The ancient Greeks would compliment someone by saying that they smelled of thyme. They burned thyme incense in their temples, used sprigs of thyme to preserve wine and fruit, drank thyme tea to prevent nightmares, and grew thyme to nourish their beehives and provide them with a well-known scented honey that is still made on Mount Hymettus today as it was thousands of years ago.
The ancient Romans gave thyme to people who seemed melancholic or shy in the belief that thyme’s cheery scent could cure them. Pliny the Elder, who took some thyme plants with him when he moved away from Rome, recommended burning thyme as it “puts to flight all venomous creatures,” and the belief that thyme smoke repelled scorpions was especially widespread. The Romans adopted the Greeks’ symbolism of thyme, with warriors adding thyme to their baths before battles to give themselves a boost of bravery. They used thyme to flavor cheeses and liquors. They also introduced thyme to the British Isles, where it escaped cultivation to become a common sight on slopes and cliffs, where it still grows today.
Thyme in Other Cultures
According to longstanding Christian tradition, thyme was one of the herbs lining the manger when Jesus was born. Consequently, it is often placed in nativity scenes today. In Egypt, thyme was one of the herbs used in embalming. In the Middle Ages, European ladies embroidered bees hovering over sprigs of thyme on the scarves of their knights, a continuation of the association between thyme and bravery. In the Scottish Highlands, warriors of long ago drank thyme tea to boost their courage and strength before going into battle. Thyme was grown as a potherb in many medieval gardens and was subsequently used extensively in Elizabethan borders. Traditionally, in Wales, thyme was planted on graves.
Thyme in Written Works
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare wrote that Titania, the Queen of the Faeries, often went to "a bank whereon the wild thyme blows," committing to history the old English tradition that patches of thyme were favorite playgrounds of faeries. Carl Linnaeus, the founder of the modern botanical nomenclature system, recommended a tea of thyme to cure hangovers and headaches. At the turn of the last century, author Rudyard Kipling wrote of "our close-bit thyme that smells/Like dawn in Paradise." In A Modern Herbal, early 20th century herbalist Maud Grieve recommended planting a large patch of thyme near beehives to nourish them.
Thyme in Western Medicine
Thyme has even interacted with the history of Western medicine. According to some sources, 2nd century physician Galen, who it is believed was the first to identify the thymus gland, may have chosen its name because it reminded him of thyme. Galen believed that the thymus gland was the “center of courage and affection.” Thymol, the oil that makes thyme such an effective fungicide, was first extracted in 1719 by Caspar Neumann, an apothecary to the Count of Berlin.
Cultivating Thyme Today
Garden thyme, Thymus vulgaris, descends from its close relative, Thymus serpyllum, known variously as mother-of-thyme, wild thyme, and creeping thyme. Thyme likes conditions like its natural habitat – dry, sunny, a little rocky, with sharply drained soil. Thyme does well on slopes, bordering pathways, and between paving stones. It appreciates having some scattered stones to tumble over. In areas with hot summers, thyme is best planted in spring so that its roots can adjust to its new site before the hottest weather sets in. Thyme’s roots have a tendency to heave after planting and become sun-scorched, so check occasionally after transplant to make sure they are still underground. Thyme has a huge number of cultivars, with a wide range of colors and textures. Growing thyme means having a living reminder of human history in your garden.
Sources
Herbs for Use and for Delight, ed. Foley, 1974.
Herbs: Their Cultivation and Usage, Hemphill and Hemphill, 1983.
Elizabeth Loveland - Elizabeth Loveland is a freelance writer, editor, and nature photographer. She received a degree in anthropology from Oberlin College and ...
